Wolseong 3 reactor halts operations, cause unknown

A nuclear reactor at South Korea's Wolseong nuclear power plant automatically stopped operating early Saturday, plant operators said, adding that they are still investigating the cause.

The 700,000-kilowatt reactor stopped operating at 6:50 a.m. when its safety shutdown system became engaged, according to Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. It added that power supply will remain stable throughout the weekend.

The reactor, located in the country's southeastern provincial city of Gyeongju, began commercial operation in July 1998.

It marked the first time in eight months for the reactor's operations to be suspended. It was halted for 34 days last year due to maintenance.(Yonhap)